Source: Team_Talk
Long-term thinking from Hoops boss
The former West Brom boss is optimistic his current crop of players will be up to speed in terms of fitness and sharpness for next Wednesday's first leg qualifier with Dinamo Moscow at Parkhead.
But Mowbray is trying to combine that with assembling a team which will do the Bhoys justice for years to come.
He said: "In certain departments of the team, we need to make sure there is competition for places which is what I am trying to create.
"Every coach wants that so we will try and bring one or two more players in.
"There are things ongoing on a few things and they either pick up speed quickly and roll on and 'bang' it's done, or they stumble along and it's phone call after phone call.
"I am here for the long term. I want to try and get past Dinamo but the bottom line is you build a team and a club over a length of time by adding quality wherever you can.
"You don't even see the break in the team sometimes. All of a sudden you have got a team of quality players and you look back and think 'they aren't bad.'
"But you don't buy six players straight away and they all go in your team and hit it off and are brilliant from day one.
"Some take time to adjust, some find the pace too quick. We will add to it at the right time with the right quality and hopefully progress the football club forward."
One of Mowbray's summer signings, midfielder Landry N'Guemo, gave a glimpse of his potential in Wednesday's friendly with Cardiff which marked the official opening of the Bluebirds new 27,000 all-seater stadium.
N'Guemo has been signed initially on a season-long loan from Nancy with the possibility of the deal becoming permanent.
Mowbray said: "Landry N'Guemo is a good player. What you saw on Wednesday is what you get from him. You see that in training every day.
"He is a very good footballer and I've tracked him for about a year and a half.
"Eventually we have managed to get him and I am sure he will be an asset to the club but he has got competition for his place when Scott Brown gets himself fit, of course.
"Let's wait and see. It's still very early, that was his first full game and he will only get better."
Mowbray also hopes Cardiff skipper Joe Ledley makes the kind of move which will benefit his career if he decides to leave the club.
The £6million-rated Ledley has declined to sign a new contract and is a target for Hull boss Phil Brown, who spoke to his Cardiff counterpart Dave Jones before Wednesday night's game.
Mowbray said: "I am not here to sell Dave's players for him but undoubtedly Ledley is a talented player who has got the quality and the athleticism and the ability.
"I am a great believer in horses for courses. If Ledley does leave Cardiff, you hope he finds a manager or coach who plays a brand of football that only heightens his talent and quality.
"For Cardiff's sake let's hope they keep him and push hard for promotion this season."
